Filling machine



Jan. 1, 1924 1,419,021

B. P. BABCOCK FILLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 13 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. l, 1924 1,479,021

a. P. BABcocK FILLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 15 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lum ` r y Y v 'if 94% 7///////////. a,

Patented Jan. l, 1924.

UNTTED* ST AT ES PATENT OFF lfC E..

BASIII Pf BAECOCK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNGR TO SPRAGUE CANNING MACHIN- ERY CU., F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION- OF ILLINOIS.

FILLING MACHINE.

Application-'med October 13, 1920.

To ailiwlzomztmay concern .f

Be it'` known thatI, Basle P. BAoooK, a` citizenzofA the. United. Sta-tes, residing at Chicago, in the countyT- of Cook and State of. Iilinois, have invented new and useful Improvements.V in Filling Machines, of which the following is a` full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being hadto thei accompanying drawing, formmg i0 avpartof this specification. 1

My. invention relates to improvements 1n automatic; filling machines, and has particular refe-rence to the discharge means thereof.'

Gonsiderable ditiiculty hasv beenv experienced in: filling machines for handling sticky or sto'w-fiowing materials, such as marshmallow filling, syrup and the like, for therreason, ity has beenl found, that` theV material will sticlcto the discharge means and will. drip.1 and` cause the material to get where itis met wanted, with the result that the; machine: becomes gummed up.

It is the object of this invention to provide means for removing the surplus materiai which sticks to the discharge means of a filling machine, and thus to remedy the objection and diliculty heretofore experienced.`

A further object is the production of mechanism for the purpose set forth, which will be of durableand mechanical construction andhighly eticient in` use. Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The-invention will be best understood by reference to the` accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through an automatic filling machine embodying the 4o invent-ion, the same being, taken on substantially line 1-1of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the discharge means of the machine.` adjacent portions' of the'machine being frag- 45 mentarily shown;

Fig. 3 is a p ,lan view, partly in section, ofthe construction seen in Fig. l;

Fig. f1 is anenlargedi section taken on substantially line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to the lower portion of Fig.l 4, showing the cut-ofi knives in open position, and

Fig. 6 isralragimentary section taken on line ;6-6 ofV Fig. 5.

Serial No. 4165636'.

The preferred. form of' construction,,ias`

illustratedA in. the drawings, is shown appliedto a filling machine of an old type, no novelty being claimedin the construction otthe li'lhngmachine pier se,.the nov-eltyfresidingin. the cut-offV device applied to the discharge mechanism of the machine, and-iu reservoir is a. circular series of measuring cylinders 12iwhich airearranged to rotate with said reservoir. Mounted to reciprocate insaid measuring cylinders are pistons 13. In the bottom ofy reservoir 10 is provided a stationary cut-ott plate 14,wfhich engages with a stationary sleeve 15 embracing shaft 11. Saidy plate 14 `is formed With-an open'- ing 1G whereby, in the rotation of the reservoir and the measuring cylinders, communication will be established between the interior of said reservoir and the upper ends of said cylinders when the latter are in register with the opening 16.

Symmetrieally spared about the reservoir 10 is a series of discharge devices, each of which comprises a. vertically disposed noz- Zle 17 secured to said reservoir by screws 17. communicates with the corresponding measuring cylinder l2 through an opening 18 leadinggfrom the upper end of the cylinder. Mounted for reciprocatory movement in each nozzle 17 is a plungerA valve 19 adapted, when at its lower terminal of movement, to shut-oli1 communication between the corresponding passage 18'and the interior of the nozzle, and hence between the nozzle and the corresponding measuring cylinder 12, as seen at the right hand side of Fig. 1; and when, at its upper terminal of movement, to uncover the corresponding. passage 18 so as to establish communication Abetween the nozzle and the corresponding measuring cylinder, asshown atthe left hand side of Fig. 1. The arrangement is such that the pistons 13 will move upwardly when the plunger valves 19 are in their upper positions so as to cause the contents o'the cylinders tobe forced out. by saidzpistons into The interior ofeach of saidr nozzlesV the nozzles :for discharge through the latter. When the upward movement of the pistons takes place, the upper ends of the cylinders will be in register with and closed by the cut-oil plate 14, filling of said cylinders, such as occurs when the upper ends thereof are in register with the o ening 16, taking place when the plunger va ves 19 are moved to their lower positions.

Reciprocation of plunger valves 19 is etl'ected through the medium of rollers 2O provided at the upper ends thereof which engage with an annular cam 4track 21 encircling the reservoir 10 and suitably rigidly supported. The arrangement is such that in the operation of the filling machine the rollers 20, in the travel thereof upon cam track 21, will cause the plunger valves 19 to be reciprocated in timed relation with the reciprocations of pistons 13 so as to eilect successively the filling and discharging of each of the measuring cylinders 12 during each complete rotation of the reservoir.

A surplus material, cut-oi or removing mechanism is applied to the lower end of each of the nozzles 17, and comprises a collar 22 which embraces the lower end portion of the nozzle, the same being secured thereto by straps 23 secured at their lower ends by screws 24 to said collar, screws 25 serving to secure said straps to the nozzle, as clearly seen in Fig. 4.

The underside of each collar 22 is provided with two opposing inclined surfaces 26 upon which are mounted a pair of cooperating reciprocatory knives 27, the lateral edges of which engage guide ianges 2S provided upon said inclined surfaces as clearly seen in Fig. 6. The adjacent edges of said knives are sharpened and are adapted to meet each other in a line which is intersected by the axis of the nozzle as clearly seen in Fig. 4. The outer ends of knives 27 are formed to embrace a cross bar 29, the ends of which project beyond the periphery of member 22.

Reciprocation of the knives 27 is eiiected throu h the medium of substantially T shaped members 30, having upwardly eX- tending stems 31, the members 30 eing secured by screws 32 to opposite sides of the collar 22, said screws passin through elongated slots 33 provided in t e members 3() to permit of vertical movement of the latter. The upper ends of stems 31 project through openings 34 formed in the outwardly projecting, upper ends of straps 23, the arrangement eing such that the members 30 will be slidably mounted for movement in a di rection parallel with the axis of the nozzle. Interposed between the members 30 and said upper ends of straps 23 are helical compression springs 35 which serve to normally hold the members 3() at their lower terminals of movement.

Carried in the lower ends of members 30 are cross-bars 36, the opposite ends of each of which are connected by links 37 with the ends oi' cross-bar 29. Said links are held in engagement with the bars 36 by means of cotter pins 38 and are held in engagement with the bar 29 by means of nuts 38', as clearly seen in Fig. 2. The arrangement is such that upward movement ot the members 30 will etlect outward or retracting movement of knives 27, downward movement ot' said members 3() eiiecting inward or operative movement of said knives. In other Words reciprocation of the members 30 will cause knives 27 to alternately approach and recede from each other.

Actuation of the melnbers 30 and hence of the cut-off knives cooperating with each discharge nozzle, is elected by means of an actuating device formed of two angular plates 39 which are connected by bars 40 and 41, a sleeve 42 being provided upon the bar 40 for maintaining said plates in spaced relation. Sleeves 43 are provided upon the bar 41 for a similar purpose. The sleeves 43 serve the additional purpose, however, of holding a roller 44 arranged upon the bar 41, centrally of the latter. The roller 44 is so positioned that in the upward movement of the corresponding plunger 19 a shoulder 45 upon said plunger will engage said roller so as to raise the roller to the position seen at the left hand side of Fig. 1. The shoulder 45 is slightly concave in order to insure against accidental disengagement of said roller therefrom.

Provided at the lower ends of plates 39 are laterally projecting screws 46 in which are formed openings 47 with which engage the upper ends of stems 31 of members 30. Nuts 48 are threaded upon screws 46 to lock the stems 31 in engagement therewith. An operative connection is thus established between the knives 27 and the roller 44, whereby in the upward movement of said roller through engagement therewith. of the plunger shoulders 45, said knives will be moved outwardly, as will be readily understood.

ln operation, the reservoir 1() will be rotated carrying therewith the measuring cylinders 12 as well as the discharge nozzles 17 with the cut-oli' mechanism, with which each of the same is equipped. The cans 49 are fed to and removed from the machine by suitable mechanism, old in the art. The cans enter the machine ahead of can sweeps 50 which serve to move the same in unison with said reservoir measuring cylinders and discharge nozzles, the cans, in being thus moved, being positioned directly under the discharge nozzles. As said reservoir rotates, the pistons 13 are refiprocated to etfect alternate filling and discharge of the measuring cylinders. the plunger valves 19 being reciprocated in timed relation with llS A'inviarci said pistons sci-that during the filling of the measuring cylinders the passages 18 will be closed and in the discharge of said cylinders said passages 18 will be opened. The knives 23 cooperating Withleach nozzle will remain normally in cutting-offposition, that is with their knife edges contacting as seen in Fig. 4, by reason of the influence of springs 35. In the elevation of each plunger valve 19,

however, to permit-of discharge from the discharge nozle, as said| plunger valve approaches the upper terminal of its movement, the shoulder 45 thereof will contact with the corresponding roller 44 raising the latter and causing the knives to be retracted or moved to the position seen in Fig. 5. Said knives will be held in this position so long as the plunger valve is in elevated or open position or in a position to permit of discharge from the nozzle into the can positioned below. Upon lowering of each plunger to closing position, after the can has been filled, the roller 44 engaged by the former will be released and the correspondin knives 27 will be moved to operative position by the springs 35. In thus being moved to operative position said knives will effectively sever any of the surplus filling substance which may be sticking to and dripping from the corresponding nozzle, allowing such surplus material to drop into the can prior to the withdrawal of the latter from position under the discharge nozzle, and Will prevent any further dripping until another can is fed to position thereunder when said knives Will again be moved out- Wardlv to allovv for discharge from the nozzle. 7ith the arrangement set forth then it will be seen that surplus material sticking to the nozzle Willbe effectively removed and dripping from the. nozzles, except during the time When discharge into the cans is ta ing place, will be prevented and thus gumming u of the machine prevented.

vWhile I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification Without departing from the spirit of the invention. l, therefore, do not vvish to be limited to the precise detail of construction set forth. but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. An automatic filling machine provided with a series of' discharge means movable consecutivelyY in a. definite path; means for causing material to be discharged by said discharge means; and means movable ivith each of said discharge means for removing the surplus material which sticks to said discharge means.

2. An automatic filling machine provided with a series of discharge means movable consecutively in a definite path; meansfor causing material tobe discharged iby said discharge means; Vandi=means movable with each of said discharge means and operable during the movement of said :discharge means for removing the surplus material which sticks to said discharge means.

3. An automatic filling machine provided with a series of discharge means. iovable consecutively in a definite path; means for causing material to be discharged by said discharge means; and means for removing' the surplus material which sticks to said discharge means, said removing means comprising a reciprocatory knife.

4. An automatic filling machine provided with a series of discharge means movable consecutively in a definite path.; means for causing material to be discharged iby-said discharge means; and means for removing the surplus material which sticks to said discharge means, said removing means comprising a pair of reciprocatory knives.

5. An automatic filling machine provided With a series of discharge means movable consecutively in a definite path; means for causing material to be discharged by said discharge means; means forremoving the surplus material which sticks to said discharge means, said removing means comprising a pair of knives mounted for reciprocatory movement transversely of the mouth of each of said discharge means; and means for actuating said knives to canse the same to alternately approach and recede from each other.

6. An automatic filling machine provided with a discharge means, said discharge means comprising a reciprocatory plunger; means for removin the surplus material which sticks to saidg discharge means; said removing means comprising a pair of' reciprocatory knives; and means for actuating said knives to cause the same to move toward each other upon movement of said plunger in one direction, and to cause said knives to move from each other upon movement of said plunger i-n the other direction.

7. An automatic filling machine provided with a discharge means, said discharge means comprising a reciprocatory plunger; means for removin the surplus material which sticks to sai discharge means, said removing means comprising a pair of reciprocatory knives; means for actuating said knives to cause the same to move toward each other upon movement of said plunger in one direction, and to cause said knives to move from each other upon the return movement of said plunger, said actuating means comprising a member operatively connected with said knives for moving the same in one direction; and a shoulder on said plunger positioned to engage with and move said member upon said return movement ot said plunger.

8. An automatic iilling machine provided with a discharge means, said discharge means comprising a reciprocatory plunger; means for removing the surplus material which sticks to said discharge means, said removing means comprising a pair of reciprocatory knives; means for actuating said. knives to cause the same to move toward each other as said plunger approaches the terminal of its movement in one direction1 and to cause said knives to move from cach other upon the return movement of said plunger, said actuating means comprising a member operativelpv connected With said knives for moving the saine in one direction; a shoulder on said plunger positioned to engage with and move said member upon the return movement of said plunger; and resilient means for moving said knives in the opposite direction upon the first mentioned movement of said plunger.

9. An automatic filling machine provided with a discharge means, said discharge means comprising a nozzle; a valve controlling discharge from said nozzle; means for removing the surplus material which sticks to said discharge nozzle, said removing means comprising a pair of knives arranged to move transversely ot' the month of said nozzle, and means for utilizing the movement of said valve for actuating said knives.

10. An automatic filling machine provided with a discharge means, said discharge means comprising a nozzle; a plunger mounted for reciprocation in said nozzle; means for removing the surplus material which tsticks to said discharge nozzle, said removing means comprising a pair of knives arranged to move transversely ot' the mouth of said nozzle; means for actuating said knives, comprising actuating members arranged at opposite sides of said nozzle for reciprocatol'y movement longitudinally ot said nozzle; and links connecting said actuating members with said knives.

ll.. An automatic filling machine provided With a discharge means, said discharge means comprising a nozzle; a plunger mounted for reciprocation in said nozzle; means for removing the surplus material which. sticks to said discharge nozzle, said removing means comprising a pair ot knives arranged to move transversely at the mouth of said nozzle; means for actuating said knives, comprising actuating members arranged at opposite sides of said nozzle :tor reciprocatory movement longitudinally of said nozzle; links connecting said actuating members With said knives; and means for utilizing the movement of said plunger for movin said actuatin members.

12. n automatic lling machine provided with a discharge means; a movably mounted valve for controlling discharge from said discharge means; means for removing the surplus material which sticks to said discharge means, said removing means comprising a pair of knives arranged to approach and recede from each other, and means associated With said plunger for moving said knives in one direction when said valve is closed and for moving said knives in the opposite direction when said valve is opened.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

BASIL P. BABCOCK. 

